I will try my finest to structure this post in a way everyone can understand.
Hence, I start at the beginning.
Like many - if not all - of you, I too have been well aware of the ongoing "flagging war" (so it is called), but haven't took part in flagging either side.
Yesterday I stumbled upon a post by @tuck-fheman, and how @haejin killed the entire reward pool for a community of ~600 poker players. By killing the reward pool, he essentially forced https://Lucksacks.com out of all of its funds.
I resteemed the post for visibility, for I believe no one should destroy rather than build.
I especially believe no one who draws his funds from a community of followers, should destroy another community of followers.
And, in an act of affection; I downvoted (flagged) one of @haejin's crypto analysis posts.
Fast forward to today
I stumbled upon a new post by @haejin, telling his followers not to vote for @themarkymark as a witness and outright bashing @themarkymark.
I don't believe in bashing others to try and look good yourself. If you wish to promote yourself, all is good. But no need to bash and destroy others. As said above, build over destroy. I have downvoted (flagged) the post because he was again trying to destroy a community of followers.
I then proceeded to scroll down through the comments, and stumbled upon a comment by @themarkymark himself.
It only said "LOL", but it made me genuinely chuckle. There was just something about him being bashed, and responding simply with a "LOL" that made it funny to me.
So, since I enjoyed @themarkymark's comment, I upvoted it, for that is what the upvote button is for.
The downvotes
Moments later, my posts got flagged -100 % by @haejin. Not one, not two, but several.
He has every right to do so, as does everyone else.
If I were to blame anyone for @haejin's flags, I could only blame myself for "taking part" in the so called "flagging war" by casting the first stone.
This post is not about pointing fingers or calling names.
My thoughts on the use of weapons
However you choose to look at it, upvotes and downvotes (flags) are our only weapons here on this platform.
By upvoting we promote, by downvoting we destroy.
I believe there is always a way to peacefully solve all problems without reaching for weapons.
And yes, I am aware that sometimes wars are inevitable. But I wish to take no part in any war. It is not why I joined the STEEM platform.
I joined to create. Reach milestones. Build friendships. And reach certain agreements when I must for the sake of greater good.
But if need be, I promise to stand by my morals and what I believe is right.
I do believe downvoting should be used when the criteria cited by the very platform is met.
I admit to having no idea whether or not @haejin's crypto analysis is good or not. I'm no expert in that field. For all I know he could be the best in that field and deserve all the rewards he is getting by his crypto analysis.
My final thoughts
The reason for this post is not to "promote", nor "bash" either side.
This post is an apology.
And hereby I wish to apologize:
- To @haejin for downvoting his crypto-analysis content.
I admit to not have the required expertise to judge how good @haejin's crypto analysis are. Therefore, I admit to having downvoted content I do not understand. I apologise for having preeched one thing and doing another.
I am leaving the judging of @haejin's crypto analysis work to others who are more verse in this "profession". I, myself, am not.
I believe we need to build, not destroy. I have since withdrew the flag I have cast on @haejin's crypto analysis, but kept the flag on the post bashing @themarkymark.
- To everyone participating in my Constrained writing contest.
It is not your fault you have been robbed of the reward pool for the contest. It is not your fault you have been robbed of a reward for the hard work you've put into writing.
At this point I would like to, again, thank each and every one of you for your entries.
The contest will continue to run weekly regardless of what happens with this situation, but the rewards may be gone. And for that, I apologise.
(Should anyone wish to make a donation, it will go toward the prize pool of the contest)
- Lastly, I would like to apologize to all of you here on the STEEM platform.
I apologize to have posted yet another post about the ongoing "flagging war" onto this amazing blockchain.
As you can see, the people who are guilty of nothing but high quality work, were harmed in this incident. And are still being harmed in this ongoing "flag war"
I will remain active and deliver the content I have been delivering since I joined the platform.
And as always, I will end my post the same way I end all my posts. With commercials! my work here on the STEEM blockchain.
in the comments below leave me a clue,
an idea for a story you'd love to read,
a journey to the unknown my keyboard will lead.
If you enjoy writing yourself, I am hosting a constrained writing contest, where each week I limit your writing with various rules and force you to be creative in brand new ways! If you're not a writer yourself, check it out and see what others have come up with! :D
I turn your writing prompts into stories.
Five minute freewrite challenges I have fulfilled:
Fire, Toilet, Flash, Soft feet, Pillow, Grounding, Surprise, Ending the pain, Going for a walk, Car Mechanic, Murderer, Dog hair.
Next writing prompt to be fulfilled:
provided by: @hrovat66
Gif by @rocking-dave